State carbon management program, selling credits for state land, set to start [Video]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – New state regulations are set to go into effect July 19 to allow the state to establish carbon offset programs on state-owned land.

Last year, legislation was enacted allowing the state to use its lands and natural resources for carbon management projects. The legislation authorized two programs within the Department of Natural Resources: the Carbon Offset Program and Carbon Management Leasing.

The Carbon Offset Program enables the State to implement carbon offset projects on state land.

The Carbon Management Leasing program allows DNR to lease state land to private parties for carbon management purposes.

Trevor Fulton, the state’s carbon offset manager, said carbon offsets allow companies responsible for high emissions from fossil fuels to buy so-called credits by investing in resources such as trees that naturally offset the harmful impacts of carbon.

Over 100 million acres of land managed by DNR and carbon offsets can be …